Avian Influenza

DEQ has formed a task force to protect public health and the environment in the event that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, reaches North Carolina.

HPAI, also known as avian flu, is a virus that can affect many free-flying birds, including domestic poultry. It has already impacted birds in the United States and has been particularly devastating to the poultry industries in Iowa and Minnesota. The virus has not been detected in North Carolina, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 48 million birds in 15 states have been affected.